Ilyushin Il-16

Ilyushin · Soviet Union · first flew 1945 · fighter

The Ilyushin Il-16 was a Soviet single-seat piston fighter prototype of 1945, developed as a potential successor to wartime fighters but cancelled as jet propulsion made piston fighters obsolete.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.2 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Late-WWII Soviet single-seat piston fighter prototype — not to be confused with the Il-16 trainer
Low-wing monoplane with a radial engine and retractable undercarriage
Did not enter production; overtaken by jet aircraft development

A conventional low-wing fighter monoplane with a large radial engine, retractable undercarriage, and a relatively long fuselage — resembles advanced late-war Soviet fighters but with Ilyushin's characteristically more substantial proportions.

Specifications

The Ilyushin Il-16 has a length of 11.2 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.4 m (44 ft).
Its maximum speed is 576 km/h (358 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by the Ilyushin bureau in the final stages of World War II, the Il-16 fighter flew in 1945 but the Soviet Air Force was already looking toward jet-powered aircraft. The prototype demonstrated adequate performance but production was not ordered. The designation Il-16 is also used for an unrelated two-seat trainer that appeared in 1947, which saw more success.

Variants

Only a single prototype of the fighter variant was built; the separate Il-16 trainer was a different design entirely.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service; the fighter prototype was used only for manufacturer and state evaluation flights.

Related aircraft

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